August 18, 2010

Sittin' on top of the world


photo by Andreas Kaiser
At almost 9200 feet above sea level, Quito, Ecuador is the second-highest capital city in the world. It sits on a long plateau lying on the east flanks of the Pichincha volcano. Surrounding the valley in which Quito is situated are about eight active volcanoes. Quito is the only capital that is directly threatened by an active volcano. Because of its elevation and its proximity to the equator, Quito has a fairly constant cool climate, with spring-like weather year-round. The views of the city are awe-inspiring. And it's just about 20 miles away from the middle of the world.

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